Bucks plans for 3-point shooting without Damian Lillard: What changes can be made? - The Athletic

The Milwaukee Bucks are undergoing significant roster changes for the 2025-26 season, most notably with Damian Lillard's departure to the Portland Trail Blazers and the acquisition of center Myles Turner. This shift will require the team to adopt a new style of play, as emphasized by Bucks general manager Jon Horst in a recent interview with The Athletic.

Horst highlighted the need for the Bucks to increase their 3-point shooting frequency, aiming to move from their middling rank of around 15th-17th last season into the top 10, while maintaining their elite efficiency (they led the NBA at 38.7%). This strategic change is logical given Giannis Antetokounmpo's expanded playmaking role, though it will be challenging without Lillard, who ranked fourth all-time in 3-point makes.

Statistical analysis confirms Horst's assessment: while the Bucks led in 3-point percentage last season, their 36.6 attempts per game ranked just 18th, and only 39.1% of their shots came from beyond the arc (14th in frequency). This represents a notable decline from previous seasons under coaches Mike Budenholzer and Doc Rivers, when the team consistently ranked higher in 3-point volume.

The Bucks' task is complicated by losing their two most frequent 3-point shooters from last season—Lillard (11th in NBA in attempts) and Brook Lopez. In the final 14 games without Lillard, the team attempted even fewer threes (35 per game) but hit them at an exceptional 40.6% rate, suggesting potential for increased volume with their current roster construction focused around Giannis as playmaker surrounded by shooters.